FAMILY WORK: the Work We Do in the Home Without Pay

CHAPTER 11 – MONEY

FAMILY WORK: The work we do in the home without pay

What do you do? “I’m a homemaker”

Does employment take precedence over family? (Expected of men)

WORK & FAMILY LINKAGE

What affect does work have on family?

Work spillover (Effects men or women more?)

Climate in home can affect work

Higher self esteem allows one to reduce standards at home.

)WOMEN IN WORKFORCE
1900 “WORK” and “Family work” separated.

1980 married women employment became the norm

Studies show it has positive rather than negative effects on family

Between 1960 – 1997 women working doubled

70% OF MARRIED WOMEN WITH CHILDREN WORKED

2/3 of women with young children worked.

WHY DID MORE WOMEN GO TO WORK?

·  Financial (due to inflation & decline in wages)

·  Social norm

·  Self fulfillment

·  Attitudes about employment & family

WHAT AFFECT DID WORKING HAVE ON WOMEN?

·  Higher self esteem

·  Sense of control (power)

·  Improved emotional &

·  Improved physical well being

WORKING HAD AN AFFECT ON:

Domestic support from partner

·  Men see their role as “helping”

·  Seldom equal – women do twice as much (but men think they do 50/50)

·  Second Shift – work to do when one gets home

·  Leisure gap – men’s leisure more important

WOMEN USUALLY RETURN TO WORK WHEN CHLDREN BECOME SCHOOL AGE (most common daycare solution)

·  Remaining in workforce affects earning ability

·  WAGE GAP: Women make $.75 to men making $1

·  Most work in low-paying, low-status, low-mobility jobs

·  Satisfaction depends on attitude toward work and support of spouse

STAY AT HOME MOMS CAN EXPERIENCE

·  mastery over cooking

·  Entertaining

·  Children

Good to network with other women

Face loneliness, long days, and role strain

STATISTICS ON WOMEN IN UTAH

·  90% will marry

·  50% Of those married will divorce

(7% will get alimony)

(90% of all single parent households are woman)

(For single women, the years of employment exceeds 40)

·  10% widowed by age 50

·  90% work for 30 years or more

(80% of these, work for low wages)

·  7% never work – have 2.2 kids and stay home as a housewife

·  50% of women with children under 1 years old work

UNLESS A WOMAN PLANS TO NOT BE POOR – SHE WILL END UP POOR

One can not support a family on minimum wage, and being prepared for the right job is vitally important.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

·  Abuse of power

·  creation of hostile environment

50% of women are harassed during working years.

·  Men less likely to perceive activities as being harassing but misperceived. friendliness as sexual interest.

·  Women see male/female relationships as more adversarial.

CHILD CARE

·  Frustration in finding adequate child care.

·  Cost of day care #1 reason for women staying on welfare.

·  ½ of employed parents have children cared for outside own home.

·  Self care becoming major form of child care (Latch-key).

Workplace has failed to recognize that the family has been radically altered in last 50 years

Flex time offered by 45% of companies but only 10% use it

Job sharing

UNEMPLOYMENT

·  Economic strain related to lower levels of marital satisfaction

·  Single parent families hardest hit

·  Increase abuse, alcohol, low self esteem

DEALING WITH UNEMPLOYMENT

·  Take time to talk with entire family

·  Take time to listen (Everyone reacts differently to stress)

·  Find out who’s hurting (Be sure to validate their feelings)

·  Let your feelings out, together or alone (Don’t bottle them up)

·  Solve problems together as a team

Decide together what you can’t afford

What you can afford and do as a family for fun

How you will get by with less

POVERTRY

IMAGINE A PERSON IN POVERTY – DESCRIBE THEM?
Do they have a character flaw?

(Show a picture of a male street bum)

32.4% OF SINGLE MOTHER FAMILIES POOR (feminization of poverty)

·  25% of poverty are families

·  Majority are Caucasian-American

HALF OF OUR CHILDREN WILL EXPERIENCE SPELLS OF POVERTY AT LEAST ONCE IN THEIR LIFETIME

·  25% of American population will be welfare recipients sometime during life.

·  Welfare recipients are usually self sufficient within a year or two.

(1996 Clinton’s law restricting time on welfare)

·  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

What could make a difference in poverty levels?

·  Maintain 2 parent families

·  Teen mothers make connection between sex and pregnancy

THE BUDGET PROCESS

A plan for spending and saving

It can help you:

·  Prevent impulse spending

·  Decide what you can or cannot afford

·  Know where your money goes

·  Increase savings

·  Decide how to protect against financial consequences of unemployment, sickness, death, etc.

DEVELOPING A SUCCESSFUL BUDGET

·  Estimate your income

·  Estimate your expenses

·  Balance the two

CARRYING OUT YOUR BUDGET

·  Become a good consumer

Get the most for your money

Recognize quality

Avoid waste

Realize time costs as well as money costs

·  Keep accurate records

·  Revise your budget periodically